Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson returns after Achilles injury, posts solid first-half performance

Deshaun Watson made his first appearance since tearing his Achilles in the 2024 season when he started the Browns' Saturday game against the Chicago Bears. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards in the first half, contributing to ten points for Cleveland, and added three rushes, including a sneak. The half also featured a fumble loss, a delay of game penalty and a timeout taken with the clock running down.

After the game, head coach Todd Monken said there were “a lot to clean up” but highlighted Watson’s performance. > "It was awesome. It was so cool to watch him play. I get all of the frustration — fans, himself. But for him to come back and work as he did is an unbelievable credit to him. I thought he really functioned at a high level," Monken added, noting the need to avoid future timeouts and delay penalties.

Shedeur Sanders accounted for another turnover with an interception, yet Monken confirmed the plan to start him in the next preseason game remains unchanged, with a possible decision on Watson’s role for Week 1 pending further evaluation.